CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 277

00231

ave reviewed at Annex II

and our conclusione

nended by

Larger than

e functions

-in-C.,

for naval

owever, that

) are not

permanent

Should a threat

China appear,

review the

o increase

1 reconnaissance

permanent air

These can necessary

nt Intelligence

hould be

d auxiliary

as soon as

d be invited

re-building

ion.

2

Bat:

Please note that this c

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

ad subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be

2

strictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leader copyright

e sent to

should also

of this paper.

ttee should be

goal of dofonce 8 long over a period taking this paper

Colonial Office te the necessary

forces of the

J.1.C. (46)7 (0)(Final

25TH JANUARY, 19467

ANNEX I

00232

cms

Ref.:

Please note that this copy is

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

2

he National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject in copyright

restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed

Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet.

Report by the Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee

We have been asked by the Joint Planning Staff to examine Sections II and III of an appreciation by the Commander-in-Chief, Hong Kong, on the Defence of Hong Kong, with a view to assessing the potential threat to Hong Kong, and commenting on the necessity for an intelligence organisation included in the Commander-in-Chief, Hong recommendations. Our remarks are as follows:-

Kong's

2. It is considered that, at present, no nation except China is likely to undertake to wrest Hong Kong from British handa. The possibility of a major war between China and Great Britain in the next ten years is so remote as to be negligible. In any other attempt to recover the Colony, the U.S.B.R. and the U.S.A. might give China diplomatic support.

3.

The Chinese are singularly inept at mounting an attack and, in fact, have never scored a major success in the course of their eight years war with Japan.

FORCES AVAILABLE

4. The fighting forces at China's disposal are estimated to be briefly as follows:-

(a) Navy

The Chinese navy has never been, and is never likely to be, an efficient fighting force.

(b) Army

The most efficient troops in the present day

Chinese Army are those trained and equipped by the Americans, They amount to approximately twenty divisions and number about 390,000 personnel. They are equipped with infantry weapons and also with field and medium artillery. The efficiency of the artillery personnel is not of a high standard. Some captured Japanese A.F. Va may be available but a co- ordinated attack by armoured formations is unlikely. Air support has not been developed

-5-

ๆ

ļ